5 must-see music and arts events in Hong Kong this weekend, November 15-17

From an auction where you can bid with stories to a night of dreamy classical music under the stars, here is what is happening this weekend

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The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra perform during Swire Symphony Under The Stars in 2020. The event returns for another concert this year at the Central Harbourfront. Photo: Hong Kong Philharmonic/Christine Cheuk

Published: 11:25am, 14 Nov 2024Updated: 1:18pm, 14 Nov 2024

According to the weather forecast, the past few days of rain and typhoon will soon depart, giving way to sunny intervals and little chance of rain this weekend.

That is good timing, as we have three of Hong Kong’s best-loved outdoor cultural events happening.

1. Swire Symphony Under the Stars

Demand for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s annual outdoor concert has been so great that there will be not just one, but two evenings of music at the Central Harbourfront this weekend.

One of the reasons for such enthusiasm is Elim Chan.

After conducting an exhilarating First Night of the BBC Proms in July – and possibly inducing an audience member into having a “loud and full body orgasm” with her music in Los Angeles in 2023 – the Hong Kong-born maestro has come home for this weekend, plus two more concerts with the HK Phil on November 22 and 23.

Veritable fireworks are expected as pianist Chiyan Wong and the HK Phil’s principal horn player Lin Jiang take the stage, as well as literal ones when the concert finishes with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.

For those unable to attend in person, Saturday’s concert will be live-streamed on the HK Phil website and its social media pages, as well as the SwireThrive Facebook page. It will also be broadcast live on RTHK TV 32 and the RTHK website.